A resident of Lagos, Emeka Okafor, wakes up early in the morning, ready to embark on his long-awaited business trip. He has been planning this journey for weeks, and he is excited about the potential business opportunities that lie ahead. Emeka owns a small manufacturing company that produces locally-sourced and handmade products. His goods are in high demand both in Nigeria and neighbouring countries. However, there is a significant obstacle standing between him and the realisation of his dreams – the state of Nigeria’s roads.
Emeka’s first challenge is navigating the labyrinth of pothole-riddled streets in Lagos. The roads are filled with craters and crevices that have become a familiar sight. Vehicles swerve dangerously to avoid these treacherous holes, often causing traffic jams and accidents. Emeka’s car is not spared; the constant jolting and bumping take a toll on his vehicle, leading to frequent breakdowns and costly repairs.
As he leaves Lagos and ventures into the states, the conditions of the roads only worsen. The highways that are meant to connect cities are in a state of disrepair. Large trucks and buses struggle to navigate the dilapidated roads, leading to delays in the transportation of goods and passengers. Emeka’s precious cargo of handmade products is at risk of being damaged during the journey.
The impact of bad roads is not limited to Emeka’s business alone. The entire Nigerian economy suffers as a result of these road conditions.
Nigeria has been grappling with the persistent and pervasive issue of road infrastructure for decades and counting. The state of the nation’s roads, marred by potholes, craters, and disrepair, has far-reaching consequences on the country’s economic development.
Bad roads translate to increased transportation costs. The wear and tear on vehicles, due to constant exposure to rough roads, leads to higher maintenance and fuel expenses.These additional costs are then passed on to consumers, causing inflationary pressures and making everyday goods more expensive. Furthermore, the inefficiencies caused by congestion and detours result in delays and increased operational expenses for businesses.
An economist, Dr. Robert Oduole, reckons that 50 per cent of the cost of food in Nigeria can be attributed to the high cost of farm-to-market expenses. He told NATIONAL ECONOMY that agriculture is a significant contributor to Nigeria’s GDP, and many small-scale farmers depend on the ability to transport their produce to market. Bad roads make it challenging to transport perishable goods, leading to increased food wastage and loss of income for farmers. The repercussions of this extend beyond the agriculture sector and contribute to food scarcity in urban areas, impacting food security.
A telltale evidence of agricultural wastage in Nigeria is the agglomeration of tonnes of fruits, vegetables, and tubers in markets across the country. This is due to days on craters-ridden highways in the sweltering heat, coupled with a lack of adequate storage facilities.
Added to that, Dr. Moses Akume, an economist, noted that Nigeria’s economy heavily relies on efficient supply chains, given its diverse regions and markets. Bad roads, according to him, disrupt the flow of goods, leading to delays in the supply chain. He said producers and consumers alike are affected, as production schedules are disrupted, and inventories rise. “Ultimately, the economy faces reduced productivity, lower sales, and higher costs.
“More so, Nigerian entrepreneurs and businesses face hurdles in expanding their operations due to bad roads.The difficulties of reaching new markets or establishing distribution networks in remote areas hinder economic growth and limit job creation. This, in turn, restrains the nation’s entrepreneurial spirit and stifles the potential for broader economic development,” he stated.
Also speaking with NATIONAL ECONOMY, a development economist, Justina Akpan, said Nigeria’s tourism sector holds significant potential for economic growth. She noted, however, that bad roads discourage both domestic and international tourists from visiting the country. She said this leads to a decline in revenue from the tourism industry, as potential tourists opt for alternative destinations with better infrastructure.
“The Nigerian government is constantly allocating a substantial portion of its budget to road maintenance and repairs. While maintaining infrastructure is essential, the persistent need for constant repairs is a drain on the nation’s resources. This diverts funds that could otherwise be used for other critical development projects, such as healthcare, education, and social welfare,” she said.
A civil engineer in Lagos, Patrick Ajuonuma, told NATIONAL ECONOMY that a highway network can be likened to the human cardiovascular system. Good pavement and minimal construction zones keep a local economy moving, healthy, and growing, but potholes and slow-moving construction projects are like plaque – they render regional commerce sclerotic.
“This stands to reason,” he said. “If a state or municipality is pockmarked by rough pavement, it is going to take longer to deliver goods in and out of the region. Delivery vehicles will be damaged more often (flat tires, bent tire rims, broken axles, etc.) and need more repairs.
“Labour and fuel costs increase when traffic moves slowly – due simply to bad conditions, or lane closures during extended resurfacing projects – causing drivers and their passengers to endure more time per trip.
“When bad streets are all that connect consumers to a shopping center, the options to shop online, in stores elsewhere or not at all become much more attractive. The online alternative might come with a higher price if parcel delivery services begin to tally and charge for the added costs of delivering in specific areas. But especially regrettable is the billions of man-hours lost in traffic, most notably in cities like Lagos, largely due to potholes,”said. Many intra and interstate travelers can identify with the above scenarios.
NATIONAL ECONOMY has identified a few bad roads across the country that are inflicting heavy cost on the economy to include: Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, East-West Road, North-East Link Road, Ekpoma-Abuja Highway, Jos/Bauchi/Gombe Road, Kabba, Ayetoro Gbede, Egbe -Ilorin Road, Lagos /Abeokuta Expressway, Jos-Kaduna Road, Itokin/Ikorodu Road, Keffi-Nasarawa-Borno Road, Abuja-Lambata-Bida Road, Calabar – Itu- Road, Benin By-pass, to name a few.
Some are of utmost economic importance. For example, Bida Road, which is approximately 121 kilometers long, links the Lagos -Kano highway, the two most important economic hubs in Nigeria.
Another fitting example is the Enugu Nsukka Highway. The stretch of road, which, under normal conditions takes less than an hour to cover, now takes between three days and one week. It is noteworthy that the Nsukka area is a major agriculture belt in Nigeria, especially for goods like cashew nuts.
The state of Nigeria’s roads represents a critical bottleneck to the country’s economic development. The impact ripples through various sectors, increasing costs, stifling productivity, and constraining growth opportunities. Addressing this issue is essential for Nigeria to fully harness its economic potential and provide its citizens with a better quality of life. This necessitates a concerted effort from both the government and private sector to invest in the modernisation, maintenance, and expansion of the road infrastructure. Only through such actions can Nigeria hope to overcome the potholes and pitfalls that have long plagued its economy.
Emeka, earlier cited, continued his journey. He couldn’t help but think about how the poor road infrastructure was stifling Nigeria’s economic growth. He arrived at his destination days later than planned, and the opportunity he had been so excited about had already slipped through his fingers. The impact of Nigeria’s bad roads was not only a personal setback for Emeka but also a reflection of the wider economic challenges facing the nation.
